seminolewar

The Governor who Shot Himself--On April Fool's Day!

Florida has a history of bad governors. Probably just like any other state. Some are good, and some bad. A few months back I mentioned one of the best, now it is time to mention one who is considered a failure.

On April 1st, 1865 (Yep, April Fool's Day) Florida Governor John Milton died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He proclaimed, "Death would be preferable to reunion."

below: Governor Milton

As far as his term as governor, he probably did good given the circumstances. He supplied food, beef, and salt to the confederacy. Tallahassee was the only state capital east of the Mississippi that did not fall to Union Troops, who were repelled at Olustee and the Battle of Natural Bridge. So he is probably considered a failure because he killed himself in the end.

Florida troops were taken to other locations outside the state during the war. The state suffered from the Union blockade and occupation of cities & ports like Key West.

Now the worst governor of Florida, I would consider it as Sidney J. Catts. But that is a story for another time.